Experience the vibrant trade, culture, and community spirit at the legendary fairs of Uttarakhand.
Where commerce meets culture — explore the bustling melas of the hills.
The Uttarayani Fair, celebrated on Makara Sankranti in January, is a vibrant cultural festival in Uttarakhand, with the grandest celebrations in Bageshwar.
Magh Mela is known to be one of the most popular fairs in Uttarkashi district in the Garhwal Region state of Uttarakhand. It is a religious and cultural fair that has now become an important tourism festival for the state. It is held in the Magh Month (January) and has fixed dates each year i.e, from 14 January (when the Makar Sankranti is celebrated) to 21 January. Dolis or palanquin, carrying deity of Kandar god and other Hindu gods and goddesses from various parts of Uttarkashi are brought on the first day of the fair to the Ramlila Ground at Uttarkashi through Pata-Sangrali Village.During this fair, devotees from different places come for Ganga Snan( taking a dip in Ganga River). Magh Mela lasts for more than a week in which people from different parts of Uttarakhand display their local produce and handcrafted items. People spark up the commencement of this festival with the beating of drums in the town situated on the banks of Bhagirathi River.
The Syalde Bikhauti Mela is held in a small town of Dwarahat in Kumaon. Dwarahat is at a distance of about 64 kms from the town of Ranikhet (28 kms from Almora). Syalde Bikhauti is celebrated on the VishuwatSankranti, celebrated on the occasion of an ancient victory. People celebrate the festival with music, songs and dances.
Nanda Devi Mahotsav has an immense cultural and religious significance, and it is held with a great deal of pomp and grandeur, as it symbolizes the economic and cultural prosperity of the region. The mela is generally held in the month of September.
This fair is held every year on the occasion of the closing of the Madhmaheshwar Temple doors. It is said that liquor is offered at this Lord Shiva temple to please Him and receive His blessings.
Apart from being one of the most auspicious religious events for all the Hindus worldwide, the Kumbh Mela at Haridwar is always a grand visual feast, attracting visitors, media, filmmakers, correspondents, writers and the common curious onlookers from the world over.
The Jhanda Mela is celebrated for the arrival of the Sikh Guru Ram Rai, at Dehradun. In the year 1699, the gurudwara was built by him, and then he hoisted his flag. Since that day, a large fair has held in the gurudwara every year on the sixth day after Holi and also the flag (jhanda) unfurled at Jhanda Chowk, Dehradun.
Devidhura Temple in Champawat is known for the event of Devi Dhura Mela during Raksha Bandhan where people gather, and stones are pelted between one gathering to others who shield themselves. In 2013, Uttarakhand high court intervened that the stones are to be replaced with Flowers and fruits.
This one-day fair is held annually at Devariyatal on the occasion of Janmashtami. Lord Krishna’s tableaus from three Lord Shiva temples – Omkareshwar Temple (in Ukhimath), Bhootnath Temple (in Sari) and Nagraja Temple (in Gaid) – come here. The tableaus, carried by devotees, circumambulate Devariyatal after which visitors and devotees dance to local music.
Bissu Fair is also celebrated at the well-known temple of Santoora Devi in close proximity to Kempty, about 5 kms from Mussoorie. The week-long fair is The fair is held during the Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra in accordance with the Hindu calendar.
As per the legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married here. Lord Brahma served as the priest while Lord Vishnu performed all the rituals as Goddess Parvati's brother. A fair is held every year to mark this occasion where devotees offer prayers and wish for a good life partner.